I sold my ‘educational’ Japanese PS2* and my old Xbox in order to buy an Xbox 360 a month or so ago. Although I’m not really a big gamer, I am enjoying wasting a lot of time with a game called Lost Planet. Last night I played for two whole hours. Its a rare occasion for me to spend more than 30 minutes on a game, but last night both Yumi and Makoto slept soundly while I was battling to save the world!

Hence today’s word:

ロストプラネットというゲームにすっかりはまってしまいました。
rosuto puranetto to iu ge-mu ni sukkari hamatte shimaimashita.
I’m completly hooked on a game called Lost Planet.

Normally admitting an addiction is a shameful thing. Although I am hanging my head as I type, I thought of a way to save face and maybe, just maybe come out ahead. Yes, even more educational than my old PS2, this post will give you the power to express the shame of being addicted to something in Japanese!

～に　はまる
(something) ni hamaru
to become hooked on (something)

Let’s take a look at a few examples:

ジャズにはまった。
jazu ni hamatta.
I’m crazy about jazz.

クレイのせいで僕はロストプラネットにはまった。
kurei no sei de boku wa rosuto puranetto ni hamatta.
Thanks to Clay, I’m completely sold on Lost Planet.

はまる has other variations on meaning. Kenkyusha’s dictionary gives four meanings:

1) get into, fit into (as in a tightly fitting cork; an actor who fits the role)

2) fall, plunge (fall into a pond; stuck in traffic)

3) be deceived (fall into a trap

4) be crazy about, hooked on, be heavily into (our above meaning)

So there you have it.

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* Of course it was educational. I even had a kanji game I played often - well, once in a while.

BTW my gamer tag is iamclayb. Say ‘hi’ if you see me.